Thing 14: Podcasting and Bookmarking

PodcastingThe word podcast is used to refer to a non-musical audio or video broadcast that is distributed over the Internet. What differentiates a podcast from regular streaming audio or video is that the delivery method for podcasts is often done automatically through RSS. In 2005, "podcast" was named the "word of the year" by New Oxford American Dictionary and with the growth of podcasting over the last year and a half; it’s easy to see why.


Podcasts take many forms, from short 1-10 minutes commentaries (like the ones used in this Learning 2.0 program) to much longer in person interviews or panel group discussions. There’s a podcast out there for just about every interest area and the best part about this technology is that you don’t have to have an iPod or a MP3 player to access them. Since podcasts use the MP3 file format, a popular compressed format for audio files, you really just need a PC (or portal device) with headphones or a speaker. iTunes, the free downloadable application created by Apple is the directory finding service most associated with podcasts, but if you don’t have iTunes installed there are still plenty of options.


Discovery Exercise

Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Education Agency have joined together to launch Texas Education on iTunes U, which provides free multimedia content to educators, students and parents in Texas and around the world. Explore some of the free content already available on Texas's iTunes U channel and write about something you found that you think you can use. Be sure to mention it's name so others can explore it as well.


Discovery Resources:· To find out more about podcasts start with Yahoo: What is a podcast tutorial· There are many, many podcast directory and finding tools out there. Here are just three of the more popular ones that don’t, like iTunes, require a software download:


Podcastalley.com
Podcast Directory


Bookmarking

Bookmarking has become a valuable skill if you don't want to become overwhelmed by the Internet and all of it's resources. There are several social networking options for bookmarking as well as a few great Web 2.0 tools designed to help with this important skill.


Bookmarking Websites:

Delicious.com is a web 2.0 tool that allows you to bookmark websites from any device to a "virtual favorites" list. As you add websites that you want to bookmark you are asked to give them tags and titles and then you can search your virtual favorites by tag to find what you are looking for. This is great for collecting lesson plan ideas, youtube videos, articles and even recipes.

Bookmarking Images and such:

Pintrest.com is a place where you can "Pin" images, quotes, recipes, technology products etc for safe keeping. When you set up an account, you also set up Pin boards by categories. Then add a simple "Pin this" button to your searching toolbar. Then as you come across things you like - you pin it to your respective board. The cool thing is that other people can repin your pictures to their boards, and you can follow other people and see what they are pinning (sound a little familiar). For those who have tried it it seems to be addicting.

Etsy.com is another type of bookmarking site but it adds a twist. The things you browse through Etsy.com are all for sale. You can bookmark things you like and never buy them, or if you like - you can click a little deeper and fill up your mailbox with some great items. You must also set up an account to use this bookmarking site but you don't have to buy a thing if you don't want to.

Stumbleupon.com is a searching tool that can link with Pinterest and it can do the searching for you according to permitters you set.  Investigate stumble upon as well and see which you prefer.  Stumbleupon will allow bookmaking for images, websites and videos.


Discovery Exercise: Create a Pinterest or Etsy account and add several items to it. See how easy the bookmarking can be. Check out the new features on your Delicious site you created for another class (they tool stacks away and instead is using tags).  To export resources in Delicious go to the profile - settings and on the right click export as HTML.  Feel free to follow me on Pinterest if you are interested.  I occasionally add to an education board and or technology tips board.

Write about your experience with bookmarking as well when you post your Thing 14. Have fun!